Having an accident on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah and leaving Hajj

Q: On the seventh of Dhul-Hijjah, I went home; I performed the rituals of `Umrah and went to Mina. I offered the five obligatory daily prayers there, and then I went to `Arafah. We had an accident, and I had a man with me who was performing Hajj on behalf of my mother. He died in the accident, and I returned on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah. What should I do?

A: As you have assumed Ihram (ritual state for Hajj and `Umrah), you should have continued performing the rituals of Hajj, and you should not have left it for an accident which you survived thanks to Allah. Such an accident is not an excuse for discontinuity of Hajj. As you have returned before standing on the mountain of `Arafah and performing Tawaf (circumambulation of the Ka`bah), you should repent, ask Allah for forgiveness and slaughter a sheep inside Makkah at any time, and distribute it among the poor. You should not eat anything of it, or give any part of it to a wealthy relative. You should also perform Hajj next year in Shaa' Allah (if Allah wills).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.